The 38-year-old, who has been in a wheelchair since being diagnosed with the rare tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at the age of 23, told This Morning that she feels that she has been accepted as a serious actor.

She said that the role of Izzy has enabled her to fight prejudice toward disability.

Houston explained: “That was my aim – to be accepted as an actor, not a disabled actor.”

“It’s been a journey I’ve been doing for a long time – fighting those prejudices and trying to make small changes myself.

“I’ve been given a gift with Corrie and they’ve been so supportive. They’re so keen on making it about the character and not the disability.”

She continued: “I’ve been an actor for 18 years. I trained and then I became a wheelchair user a couple of years after that.

“It was quite a journey with my pain, and it was learning what I could do physically and what the industry would accept me to do.

“I’ve played a lot of different illnesses in my time! I’ve done a lot of medical dramas! So it’s really nice to get something that’s meaty and character-led.”

Houston is making a significant step towards more EDS Awareness with the general public.